Paper box



Dec. 25, 1934. v A. N. HIMES 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY Maw-116M woffllz A TTORNEYS.

A. N. HIMES Dec. 25, 1934.

PAPER BOX Filed Dec. 30, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MW 76. MW

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 25,

PATENT OFFICE 1.985.118 rarsa BOX Addison N. Rimes, Piedmont, Calif.

Application December 30,1933, sci-m No. 704,708

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers or boxes constructed of cardboard, fiberboard, heavy paper, and the like, and particularly to boxes of the foldable or knock-down type. i

A considerable number of paper boxes of the knock-down type which may be folded and interlocked to assume a flat form so that they can be shipped and stored and then quickly erected when needed have appeared on the market from time to time, but most of them embody one or more objectionable features which have interfered with their commercial success. Among these features may be mentioned waste of paper stock during the formation of the blank from which the box is formed; paper, which is cut away during the cutting or forming of the blank, must be stripped from the cutting dies; folding or interlocking of the sides and ends of the blank is usually a hand operation; paper waste adds cost, stripping the dies to remove the cut-away paper portions adds further cost, and hand folding and interlocking is obviously costly. Moreover{ many boxes, when erected for use, present flabby sides and ends more or less indefinitely positioned and anything but rigid, rendering insertion of material to be packed and the application of a cover somewhat awkward.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and-simplify the construction and operation of paper boxes of the character described; to provide a blank which can be cut and creased by die operation without removal or waste of any paper whatsoever; to provide a blank which may be readily folded and interlocked by machine operation and which is turned out in flat knockeddown form for shipment and storage; to provide a box which can be quickly ercctedfrom flat or knock-down form when needed without resorting to the introduction of interlocking tongues or the like; to provide a box which is reinforced at the comers and which is rigid and uniform in shape when erected; to provide a box which permits one end to be quickly and readily opened if the commodity, for instance frosted cakes, or the like, placed in the box cannot be lifted out without danger of denting or breaking the frosting; and further, to provide a box which may be manufactured at a minimum of cost and economy both as regards the amount of material required and labor employed.

The blank and the box which it forms are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank showing the manner in which it is cut and creased prior to folding.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the box when folded and assembled.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the corners are folded.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the box I in folded and knock-down position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box showing one end open to permit a cake or like commodity to be removed by sliding it endwise out of the box.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, A indicates the blank from which the box is folded and formed. The blank is made of any suitable material but is preferably cut from cardboard, fiberboard, heavy paper, or like material. The blank is cut from stock by die operation and it is creased along the lines indicated at 2 and 3 to form a pair of side sections 4-4. It is also creased along the lines 5 and 6 to form a pair of end sections '7'7, and the blank is further creased along the lines indicated at 8, 9 and 10 to form foldable corner portions, generally indicated'at B, hereinafter to be described.

During the cutting and creasing of the blank by die operation cuts are made in each corner to form interlocking tongues 11 and cuts are also made in each comer to form foot braces 12. Slits are cut in the opposite ends of the side sections, as shown at 13, and these slits form openings for the introduction of the tongues 11 as will be described.

The blank here shown is rectangular in form and can be out without any waste of material whatsoever as no portion of the paper stock is cut away. By cutting a blank in this manner, it is possible to fold and interlock the side and end sections by machine operation. It is furthermore possible to operate the dies at a cheaper cost as stripping to remove cutaway paper sections is entirely avoided.

.Inasmuch as a machine for folding and interlocking the side and end sections is not illustrated, the manner in which it is accomplished by hand will be described. The side sections are first folded along the creased lines indicated at 2 and 9 and 3 and 9. The end sections are then folded along the crease lines 5 and 6, and when so folded, the corner sections B will be folded outwardly, the corners being bent along the lines 8, 9 and 10 to assume the position shown in Fig. 3. The corner sections'are then folded inwardly to lie parallel to the side sections and exterior thereof and the tongues 11 are inserted in the slits 13 completing assembly of the box.

During the folding. operation just described the foot braces 12, which are cut from the corner sections B, will be folded inwardly on the score lines 8 and they will assume the position clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A box cut, creased, folded and assembled in the manner here shown will be Fig. 2, and it is desired to fold it fiat for storage,

shipment, or otherwise, it is only necessary to swing the foot braces 12 inwardly against the side sections 44 and to bend the side sections downwardly against the main bottom section indicated at C. The end sections are then bent downwardly against the side sections and in doing so the corner sections flatten out as they are free to bend on the crease line 10 and they will assume a completely flattened position between the side and end sections when these are folded flat as shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, this is accomplished without bending the tongues 11 or in any way effecting the interlock formed between the tongues 11 and the side sections 4-4, hence when it is again desired to erect the box it is only necessary to grasp the side sections and fold them upwardly about the score lines 5 and 6. In doing so the end sections are also lifted upwardly and the foot braces will automatically swing outward in engagement with the end sections 7-7 as the natural spring of the material is suflicient to cause them to swing out. The operation of erecting the box from completely flat folded position to erect position is thus almost instantaneously accomplished and without either effort or skill on the part of the user.

The corner sections cut and scored as shown are not subjected to bend or strain during forming, folding, erecting, etc., of the box, as the corner sections are in reality provided with three hinges, one hinge along the lines 8, a second hinge along the lines 9, and a third hinge along the lines 10. The paper will naturally bend along these score lines and straining or tearing of the corners is thus obviated. The corners furthermore brace and reinforce the box and the rigidity of the box as a whole is materially increased because three layers of cardboard or paper are presented at each corner; two layers overlying the outer faces of the side section, and foot braces supporting the inner surface of the side sections, and furthermore strengthening and reinforcing the ends of the end sections 7-7.

From the foregoing description it should be clear that a box of this character can be made without any waste of paper whatsoever. It is made so that it may be folded and assembled by machine operation and it can thus be manufactured with great economy, both of material and labor.

While Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a box of rectangular form it may obviously be made square as shown in Fig. 5. This figure illustrates a box known as a cake box as it is intended for the use of confectioners, bakers, and so on. If a cake having a covering of frosting, or the like, is placed in the box it is often difficult to remove the same without denting or breaking the frosting. In the present instance the end section indicated at 7a may be opened by merely releasing the tongues 11 with relation to the slits 13 and then folding the end down until it is parallel with the bottom of the box. This can be accomplished as the corner sections will unfold dut and extend themselves to permit such movement of. the end section when the end is being opened. With the end open the cake may be slid out of the box and it may thus be removed without danger. of breaking the frosting, etc. In boxes of this character the cover may be madeintegral with one of the end sections as shown at 7b. This type of cover is suitable for cake boxes and the like, but where rectangular boxes, such as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3

and 4, are employed, two boxes of suitable size will be slipped one over the other, thus, permitting one box to form the container and the other the cover or lid. Y

While certain features of-the present invention are more or less specifically described, I wish 1. A box of the character described comprising 7 a bottommember having side and end wall sections connected by integral corner members, each corner member having crease lines formed between it and the side'and end sections and a central diagonally positioned creaseline, said crease line permitting folding of the corner members to form a double-wall triangular-shaped flap lying exterior to the ends of the side wall sections when the side and end wall sections are foldedat rightangles to the bottom member, a tongue formed on one wall of each corner flap and insertable in slits formed in the side wall sections, and a foot brace cut from each corner member and attached to the ends of the side wall sections, said bottom braces adapted to be folded inwardly at rightangles to the side sections to stand parallel with and engage the inner faces of the, end wall sections.

2. A box of the character described comprising a bottom, a pair of side sections, a pair of end sections, corner sections .formed integral with the side and end sections and a bottom brace cut out of each corner section but left. attached to the opposite ends of the side sections, said bottom braces adapted to be folded inwardly at rightangles to the side. sections to stand parallel with and engage the inner faces of the end sections when the side and end sections are bent upwardly at right-angles to the bottom of the box.

3. A box of the character described comprising a bottom member having side and end wall sections connected by integral corner members, each corner member having crease lines formed between it and the side and end sections and a central diagonally positioned crease line, said crease line permitting folding of the comer members to form a double-wall triangular-shaped flap lying exterior to the ends of the side wall sections when the side and end wall sections are folded upwardly at right-angles to the bottom member, a tongue formed on one Wall of each corner flap and insertable in slots formed in the side wall sections, and a member cut from each corner adapted to be folded inwardly, said member engaging the bottom section of the box to support the side walls in upright position.

ADDISON N. HIMES. 

